Final Vote, 6/20/13:

Wednesday, June 5: “The People’s RGB”

This year the RGB is hosting just one public hearing, and it is in Manhattan, primarily during working hours. We formally requested that an additional outer borough hearing be scheduled during evening hours- the time and place convenient to most rent stabilized tenants-but the RGB failed to act. What can we do? We are hosting our own hearing!
We want to show the RGB that rising rents impact tenants in all NYC neighborhoods. We will be joined by elected officials, members of the media, and some Rent Guidelines Board representatives. This event is sponsored by Tenants & Neighbors and CASA. Wednesday, June 5th, 5:30pm, New Settlement Community Center, 1501 Jerome Ave, at 172nd Street, Bronx (D or 4 train to 170th Street). For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Sam Stein: 212 608 4320 x316, or sstein@tandn.org.

Monday, June 10: HCR hearing

This is it, folks- for years, Tenants & Neighbors and other tenant organizations have been demanding that HCR issue new rules for stronger enforcement of the rent laws. In 2011, the rent law renewal mandated that HCR take that important step. Now, they have finally gone ahead and issued several pages of new regulations, all of them pro-tenant. While there is much more to be done to improve rent law enforcement, this is a really important step in the right direction. On Monday, June 10th, from 10 am to 4:30 pm at 1 Bowling Green, HCR will be hearing testimony from tenants and landlords about their proposed regulations. We’ll be holding a press conference at 9 am in front of 1 Bowling Green to call attention to this issue. Please mark your calendars, and come testify if you can- it is very important that there be a strong tenant presence. This is an important step forward for tenants rights, and we’ll have to show our support if we want the proposed regulations to become law. For additional information on the proposed regulations, talking points for testimonies, or to RSVP, please contact Sam Stein: 212 608 4320 x316, or sstein@tandn.org.

Thursday, June 13: RGB Hearing

This is the Rent Guidelines Board’s one and only formal public hearing this year. It is crucially important that tenants speak out against rising rents, and tell the board about both the hardships tenants are facing and the ways landlords are finding to raise rents and extract fees. Please consider testifying on behalf of rent stabilized tenants- yourself, your neighbors, and your community. You can call to pre-register at 212 385 2934. The hearing will be held on Thursday, June 13th, at 49-51 Chambers Street between Broadway and Center, starting at 10 am, with registration closing at 7 pm but testimony continuing until all registered speakers have been heard. For talking points, additional information, or to RSVP, please contact Sam Stein: 212 608 4320 x316, or sstein@tandn.org.